Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers says Kasey McAteer deserved his Premier League debut.
McAteer became the latest academy product to rise through the ranks and represent the first team, replacing James Maddison for the final moments of Sunday's 4-0 win over Newcastle United.
Rodgers said: “I just think with young players that if you give them that taste of it and give them that little bit of hope, then hopefully it allows them to push on.
“It was nice for him to come on and add that energy, get a feel for it, and now hopefully that can be a platform to go on and have a really good career."
Rodgers added: “When I first came in, I remember watching an under-17 game, and it was actually for all the young players at under-17s that weren't actually playing in the young team.
“He showed up. He'd been out for a long time with injury. I liked how he moved about the pitch, he had a football brain, and he passed the ball well.
“Then over these two-and-a-half years I've been here, I've kept an eye on him. He's grown physically, he's got good legs, he can get around the pitch, and he's a bright footballer who can play in a number of positions."
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